Four years had passed since the Demon Attack, as the people of Konoha have come to call it. In that time things had regained a semblance of normalcy in the village. People had largely finished grieving and rebuilding. The village was beautiful again. But there is one thing marring that beauty, as far as the average citizen is concerned. And that thing goes by the name Uzumaki Naruko.
Of course as far as the little girl was concerned they we're all a bunch of jerks. She didn't quite understand why they thought she's the demon. Sure she was born on the day it appeared and was subsequently defeated by the Yondaime. But she fails to see how she could be a giant ten tailed monster, she doesn't have any tails, and she's pretty small (as much as she hates to acknowledge that).
She's pretty sure she's not supposed to know about people thinking her to be the demon. Whenever she asks an adult why people dislike her it's usually has people saying "Don't act like you don't know what you did!" or "They just don't understand, and are unfairly placing hate on you." That second one is usually said by the man in the funny hat. She doesn't see what's so hard about telling her, but oh well. The old man in the hat, the hokahge or whatever the matron of the orphanage calls him knows lots of stuff so he probably knows why she's not supposed to know. Though she also thinks she's not supposed to know that she shouldn't know. Ugh, just thinking about that is confusing her.
She was currently playing in the park, watching kids play. She wished she could do that, but the matron says she's not supposed to talk to others, they could hurt her. Naruko doesn't really see how they could hurt her more than the matron. But the matron will also hurt her if she disobeys so she sits on the swing imagining how much fun she'd be having if she were allowed to play with them. She's cut from her musings as she here's a soft sound coming from the forest near the playground. It's one of the many small forests spread though out the village. Listening for a moment longer she recognizes that sound, one she's made all to many times, when the matron punishes her. Someone is crying.
She's not supposed to talk to people but she doesn't want to listen to someone cry, so she decides to go see who's causing it. What she finds is a small blind girl being surrounded by three older boys, maybe ten years old. The blind girl seems to be about her own age. Naruko decides to observe for a moment, wondering why the blind girl is crying when she's surrounded by so many friends.
"You think you're so great just cause you have those freaky eyes?" Said the tallest of the boys with what Naruko can only describe as smiling meanly.
Another piped up and said "Yeah my older brother says he has a Hyuuga in his academy class and they all they do is talk down to those not from the clan."
"Y-You're wrong. W-we're not like that." The girl says poking her fingers together while choking on tears. Naruko decides she doesn't like seeing the girl cry.
"Hey! Leave her alone you jerks!" She's going to be punished later but she'd rather it be her crying than the other girl. As four pairs of eyes land on her and immediately the first boy speaks up.
"Why should we Tomato head?" The other boys snicker at his comment. Naruko however doesn't care that they're insulting her, everyone does that anyways.
"Because I'll kick your ass if you don't!" She shouts, not caring that they're probably in the academy and are all well over a foot taller than her.
The third boy who had been quiet until this point speaks up. "Hey I recognize her, my mom told me not to talk to the red haired demon girl, and she's the only girl with red hair like that I've ever seen." The first boy speaks up with a tone of dismissal. "Naw she couldn't be a demon, look at her, she's a shrimp!"
They all look at each other and laugh but in that moment Naruko rushes forward, fast for a four year old, and tackles the boy who called her a shrimp. She gets a few punches in and even rips some hair out before the other boys puller her off him and start wailing on her. She manages to hold out for a minute before she starts to cry from the pain. It's ten minutes before the boys get tired of beating her up and leave.
Timidly the blind girl approaches her and says "T-Thank you, Um. . ." She trails off not sure what to call her savior.
With a groan of pain she sits up and stares at the girl, noting for the first time how pretty her eyes are. Seeing she wants her name she says "I'm Naruko, Uzumaki Naruko." She says offering a bright smile. "Who are you?"
"H-Hyuuga Hinata." She says stuttering with a small blush. "A-Are you actually a demon?"
Naruko shakes her head "I don't think so, but a lot of adults think otherwise. I think they're dumb." She says while sticking out her tongue. Her silliness elicits a giggle from Hinata and if possible Naruko smiles even brighter. "You know I think your eyes are pretty, even if they're odd. So I gotta ask, are you blind?" Hinata blushes a bit and offers a soft smile, no one had ever complimented her eyes before. Hearing Naruko's question she shakes her head and opens her mouth to speak.
Before Hinata can respond a man appears, he's also blind, wait no, Hinata shook her head no so he's just got the same eyes. Maybe her brother or something? "Hinata-sama come we must leave."
"K-Ko-san can we stay a little longer? I want to keep talking with my new friend." She had slowly managed to gather her nerves as she speaks about Naruko, this is something she truly wants, unlike the training her father gives her in the Jyuken, so she's trying to be brave. Like Naruko would be.
For her part Naruko is surprised Hinata called her a friend, no one has ever wanted to be her friend before. Ko sweeps his eyes towards Naruko, before they briefly widen and he says "No Hinata-sama you shouldn't talk with that thing. Now come." He says while holding out his hand to the younger Hyuuga. Something doesn't sit right with Hinata at that and with more conviction then anyone had ever heard the young heiress use.
"No. Naruko's my friend, she helped me and I'm not going to leave her just because. . . because you're wrong about her." She says her eyes oddly like steel for a four year old. It's more than enough to shock the older Hyuuga. He looks towards the red headed girl. He's still not going to trust her, but if she can bring out this sort of attitude in the heiress then he'll allow it. Hopefully Hiashi will not be so upset as to activate his Caged Bird Seal.
With a sigh he says. "If that is what you wish Hinata-sama." Naruko was beaming and grabbed the heiress by the arm dragging her out towards the playground. So eager she failed to notice the softer smile on Hinata's face.
"C'mon Hinata-chan!" Naruko didn't hesitate to use the affectionate suffix. Hinata is her friend so of course she'd use chan.
With some hesitation Hinata responds. "H-Hai Naruko-chan!" The stutter eliciting a small frown from the red head, who quickly whirls on her.
"Hinata-chan! Be brave, I'll never judge you so don't be afraid around me." She says as her face morphs into a softer, gentler smile. Hinata nods a resolves herself to do better.
Ko seeing the interaction resists the urge to smile, even if she is a demon she is helping the heiress and for now that's all that matters.
The two girls arrive at the playground and immediately run into a problem. Naruko doesn't really know any games, so whenever they decide to play something new Hinata found she always has to explain it. Not that she minds, the look of excitement on the shorter girls face always brought a smile to her own.
It's half an hour later that Ko steps out of the treeline, deactivating his doujutsu as he does, no longer needing it to keep the heiress in sight with it. Just as he was prepared to call out to Hinata-sama an older woman approaches the two and roughly grabs the red head.
"Naruko I told you not to talk to others and I find you not just talking to this girl but playing with her?!" Naruko looks up in surprise as she is scolded by the matron of the orphanage. "Now come you stupid girl." She says while roughly tugging her up to her feet and away from the Hyuuga. That poor girl was probably to disturbed by the demon to say anything.
"Sorry. Hinata-chan guess I've got to go now." Naruko says with a look of regret on her face.
"I just told you not to talk to others and now you're doing so in front of me?" The matron asks rhetorically. It's upon seeing this that despite his own misgivings Ko steps in.
"Ma'am she's become a friend to Hinata-sama the Hyuuga heiress, surely you would not mean to separate them?" He says while glaring at her with his Byakugan activated. It's more than enough to sufficiently cow the older woman.
"Fine she can be friends with the heiress but that does not change it's time for her to go home." She says not eager to offend the Hyuuga clan.
"I see no issue with that, come Hinata-sama it's time we head home as well." He says while holding out a hand for her to take. She does so while saying.
"Bye Naruko-chan, I'll see you again." Naruko nods and says.
"See ya later Hinata-chan" She says while being pulled away. It's only when she arrives back at the orphanage and put in her room is she spoken to again, by a now much angrier matron. With a powerful slap to her cheek the matron says.
"That is for disobeying me, and this," She slaps Naruko harder, enough to bring tears to her eyes "is for embarrassing me in front of the Hyuuga." She continues to inflict these physical punishments on the four year old, by the time she's finished the young girl is forced to spit out the blood that's pooled in her mouth. "You will clean up the mess you made and then as further punishment won't be given meals for the next two days, more if I hear your crying or complaining." She says while gesturing to Naruko's blood on the ground.
All Naruko can do is wonder if Hinata-chan will be forced to suffer the same punishment for talking to her. She hopes not. She also sort of doubts it, since she's pretty sure most people don't think Hinata-chan is a demon. Once the matron leaves the room and locks her in, she can't help but show a soft smile, she made a friend today and that's enough to keep her going through this punishment.
It was a short five months later that Naruko found she was no longer welcome in the orphanage. All she had done was sneak out to visit Hinata at the playground but when she came back she found she couldn't get back in and when she went to the front the matron looked down at her and said they'd never met before. Naruko thought the matron must have lost her marbles and told her as much. All that accomplished was the door being slammed in her face. Well who was she to look a gift house in the mouth? She never understood that saying, why do people say gift houses have mouths? Is it the entrance? Why would she not want to look inside her new house? She failed to realize it's horse and not house.
She wonders what she'll do about a place to stay, it's not going to be another two months until her birthday when the man with the funny hat will visit again. She'd assume he'll look for her when he finds she's gone. For now she'll just look around for food and shelter.
It would be hours of wandering and failing to find a suitable place she looks further out side of the village proper, into more of the training grounds. She stumbles upon a fenced off forest, it has a sign. "Training ground four four? What a weird name. I wonder if there's any food inside." She speaks as she slowly climbs the fence. It's odd though, as she walks through she notices the animals nearby all retreating from her. They always seem to do so, even the weird kitty with a bow, or the dog peoples dogs. She never could understand why animals seem to be more afraid of her than the people.
She tried to chase after one but they were to fast for her to catch. She decides that she won't be able to get any food from here, but maybe she can use it as shelter since the animals don't seem to want to bother her. Such a shame to, they're all so cute. Especially the giant striped kitties, they look especially fluffy. Making her way back into the village she tries to use the small amount pocket change to buy some food only to be rebuffed at every turn. She goes to bed hungry that night. The next morning she repeats the same process only to be met with failure once more. She goes to bed hungry again. Maybe if she demands things like those people with black eyes and hair. She tried walking up to a man selling bread and bluntly said "Hey give me your bread." When he yelled at her she decided that probably only works for the black eyed people. She went to bed hungry once more. The next morning all she can do is think about how hungry she is. She barely even had the energy to search for food. She went to bed hungry, feeling for the first time the bitter sting of her own tears from hunger pains. She made it back into the village the next day, following the scent of something delicious, only to pass out just as she reached it.
She awoke in a bed, that hadn't happened in since the old man last visited her, does that mean he came early? No this isn't the orphanage. Where is she? That delicious smell tickles her nose once more. She weakly begins to sit up only for an older girl she hadn't noticed before now helping her to sit up.
"Easy, you're still weak." She couldn't bring herself to ask when this little girl ate last. The answer might break her own heart. The red headed girls stomach growled loudly bring a blush to the young girls face. "Just wait a moment I'll bring food real quick." She's not even gone for a minute before returning with a warm bowl of, noodles? She'd never seen food like this before. She's mostly used to seeing stale bread or rotten fruit. That's what the matron always gave her. Still Naruko can't help as she digs her hand into the bowl only to wince as she gets burned. The older girl lets out a gasp and hands the other girl chopsticks.
Naruko looks up at her confused why was she given sticks. She voices her concerns. "Why did you give me sticks?" The older girl realized at this moment that the red head had no idea how to use eating utensils.
"They're for eating, so you don't get burned. I'll teach you later for now I'll just feed you myself." She says as she takes hold of the chopsticks and lifts up several of the noodles. Naruko nods and opens her mouth, only to practically melt as she eats the most delicious thing she's ever tasted. "Are you okay? You're crying, do you not like it?" The older girl asks with concern.
"I-I'm okay, this is just the best thing I've ever had, what is it?!" She says only now noticing the tears that had been stinging her eyes. She quickly tries to rub them away, previous experience having taught her people are often meaner when she cries. "A-Anyways, what's your name, nee-chan?"
"I'm Ichiraku Ayame, this is my families miso ramen. Who are you little lady?" She asks as she gives the red head another serving. The girl answers while slurping up the delicious noodles.
"Uzumaki Naruko." She says more focused on eagerly eating. They fall into a comfortable silence interrupted only by Naruko's eating. After she finishes off the ramen she takes it into the another room. When she returns she brings an older man with her.
"This is my father Ichiraku Teuchi, and the man who made your ramen." Naruko practically has stars in her eyes when she hears that and gratefully says.
"Thank you Oji-san." He can't help but see her mother in her, she looks just like her, only tiny. If he had known she was on the streets he would have helped her much earlier.
"No worries, you're welcome any time." He says with a smile on his face, knowing he'd do anything to help his friends child. Once more the little girl started crying, it's the first time since she met Hinata-chan that anyone has shown her kindness. Sure the old man with the weird hat was kind of nice to her, but he never truly helped her, just tried to see if she's okay, which is still more than most people.
She had started visiting the Ichiraku family all the time, she had most her meals at their stand near their house. She had also figured out that while it's gross, checking trash cans outside of restaurants typically nets her a meal, but she always has to hold back gagging while eating that stuff.
It had been a month since they rescued her, and she realizes now, a month since she last saw Hinata-chan. Does Hinata-chan miss her, because she misses the girl with white eyes. Maybe she'll go to the park today, she did just get fed by the Ichiraku so she doesn't need to scrounge up food for a little while. When she arrived at their usual playground she was almost immediately knocked to the ground as something lands on top of her. It's enough to knock the wind out of her and make her groan.
"Why did you stop coming for a month, without even telling me?" Ah she recognizes that voice. It's Hinata-chan! She offers and apologetic grin.
"Sorry Hinata-chan I was busy looking for food." Hinata looks up at her in surprise before bringing her hands down to Naruko's sides. She's much thinner than the last time they saw each other.
"Why isn't the orphanage feeding you?" She asks worried. Not far off Ko is wondering the same thing, with his Byakugan activated he's able to easily see this girl hasn't had a truly filling meal in far to long.
"Oh they started pretending that they don't know me and then kicked me out." Naruko says like as though she's talking about the weather. "Now come on we haven't played in forever. What do you want to play first?" The little red head asks excitedly.
Hinata for her part can almost feel her heart break at hearing how this amazing girl has been out on the streets for a month. But Naruko isn't crying over it and neither will she. The two girl start playing. Well they argue first on what to play, Naruko clamoring for playing ninja, while Hinata claiming the two should play house. Hinata ultimately wins that argument, but only while conceding to play ninja next time.
Ko for his part is thinking on what to do about this. Does the Hokage know the girl is out on the streets? Perhaps he could bring her to the Hyuuga estate. A few months ago he would have been afraid Hiashi-sama would flay him for even thinking it. But when he told the man of Hinata's new friend he had actually seemed pleased. Yes he'll invite her to the estate and then Hiashi-sama can bring up her circumstances to the Hokage, either immediately or during the next shinobi council meeting. It's an hour later that Ko says "Hinata-sama, it's time we head back home."
"Can we not stay a little longer Ko-san?"
"No your father wants you home early today, apparently for etiquette training." It'd true, there would be a foreign dignitary from Kumo coming in six weeks and the girl needs to be taught how to act around them.
"Oh, well bye then Naruko-chan."
Ko lets out a sigh, before saying "Well Naruko-san would you like to come with us, Hinata-sama's father would love to meet you."
Hinata gasps at that and looks hopefully at Naruko. The red head excitedly says. "I'd love to, come on Hinata let's go. Ooh what does your house look like? Does everyone there have eyes like you two?" The girl continues to babble excited while being escorted to the estate.
Upon arriving the guards look skeptical at allowing the demon girl in, but if Ko wants to get his seal activated for bring her in then that's on him. Ko immediately brings the two girls to Hiashi. Knocking on the door to his office Ko waits to be allowed entry. It comes a few moments later when a stern voice says. "Enter."
Inside sits Hiashi at a desk currently doing paperwork. A few minutes pass by in silence before Naruko breaks it. "Hey you're Hinata-chan's dad right?" Finally that's enough to make the man look up and what he sees nearly gives him a heart attack. The girl looks so much like her mother one might think she was a small clone. Of course he would never show such a reaction externally and he calmly replies.
"Yes Hyuuga Hiashi. I take it you're her friend, Naruko, she told me about?" He knew who he was but it's not like he can just tell her he's known her for longer than she can remember.
"Yes Otou-sama this is Naruko-chan." Hinata says with a look of determination on her face. Her father has never been against her friendship, but she still won't let anyone be rude to the older girl.
Hiashi gives his daughter an appraising eye, before offering her a rare smile. These girls resemble their mothers to such an amazing degree. Hitomi, his wife, will probably squeal when she sees the redhead. He gives a nod and says. "Well alright then Naruko-san, know that you're welcome here any time." Of course the clan elders will probably give him hell for that, but he's the head of the clan for a reason, and he's not going to turn away his friends child.
"Excuse me Hiashi-sama, but I think you should know the girl has apparently been on the streets for the past month." A loud cracking echos through the room as Hiashi breaks his pen in his grip. His face remains unchanged.
"Thank you for making me aware of this Ko, I'll speak to Hokage-sama about why an orphan is stuck on the streets when we have a perfectly good orphanage." Naruko briefly wonders how he knew she's an orphan before figuring that maybe Hinata told him. "Hinata why don't you go introduce her to your mother and offer to let her have a bath."
"Hai Otou-sama."
It's not even an hour later that Hiashi is staring at the Hokage from across his desk. "She's been living on the streets Hokage-sama." The aged Hokage nods and says.
"Yes I'm aware, I've had Anbu watching her for years, and that has not changed." Hiashi had known there were Anbu but had figured the aged kage must have called them off, how could he have known she was on the streets and not done anything. Raising a hand to silence the man before he can speak the older man continues. "I've chosen to treat it as a test, to see if she truly is a demon, because surely a demon would be able to fend for itself on the streets."
"Then you should know by now she is no demon, because the girl has been starving."
"Yes I've come to that conclusion as well. But I had to be sure before I continue to use village resources protecting her." Hiashi was almost feeling sick. It's easy to forget but this man is known as both 'the Professor', and more importantly, and 'the God of Shinobi.' Many tend to think that just means he's powerful, but it's more than that. He is a master in every shinobi art and is what all shinobi should strive to emulate. Among those skills includes ruthlessness of the highest order.
"So will you be getting her a place to stay then?" If the older man won't then he will.
"Yes I've prepared an apartment for her. The Anbu currently watching her is under orders to escort her their once she's done playing with your daughter."
"Then by your leave Hokage-sama." Hiashi says with a bow. The old Hokage nods and dismisses him.
When Hiashi returned he found his pregnant wife cuddling the life out of the redhead. Said redhead is currently trying to wriggle her way out of his wife's grasp. His wife looks up and says. "Hiashi she looks just like her, it's adorable!" He turns an eye towards his daughter and is amused to find her staring at the other two with a look of jealousy, though he doubts she even knows what she's feeling.
"Do you wish your Kaa-chan was doing that with you?" To his surprise his daughter shakes her head and says.
"No Otou-sama, I wish I could do that with Naruko, but she's stronger than me and always breaks free." That wasn't the answer he had been expecting but if possible he finds himself even more amused with that answer. Her mother had always tried to do the same with Kushina when they were younger. They really are like their mothers.
"Hinata I've decided to postpone your lessons until Naruko-san leaves. Be sure to enjoy your time with her."
"Freedom!" Cries Naruko triumphantly as she manages to finally break free of Hitomi's grasp. Only for Hinata to immediately leap at the opportunity and grab Naruko, while pouting at her mother.
"Kaa-chan she's mine. You already have Otou-sama." Well that was certainly enough to make the only man go slack jawed. Hitomi on the other hand bursts out laughing. Naruko was lost, is it funny for them to be friends? Why would she not be able to be friends with Hinata's mom either?
A few weeks had passed since then and Naruko had to admit, they've been amazing. She got a new place to stay thanks to the purple haired woman in the kitty mask. It's so much bigger than her room at the orphanage. There's so much space to run around and she even had Hinata-chan sleep over a few times, with Ko's supervision. She even has plans tonight for Hinata-chan to sleep over after some dude with clouds or something comes to the village. She's supposed to be over at 8 pm
Of course that's not all, she turned five two weeks ago and for the first time she got presents. Her favorite is the brush Hinata-chan gave her. She was also given a cool frog wallet by some white haired circus performer, at least that what she thought his dance was for. She likes it but for some reason she can't help but think she'd prefer a rabbit wallet, or maybe a tree? What would a tree wallet even look like?. Speaking of trees she, she planted some flowers (she knows they're not trees but they are plants and that's close enough for her) on her balcony. The balcony is so cool she can see the entire village from there. She got a few more gifts, mostly from people she doesn't know. She's currently staring at one, it's hanging on her wall, ticking quietly, this one was from one of the animal people, specifically one with spiky white hair, or is it silver? The ticking thing, a clock she thinks it's called, says the time is 7:55 pm, she can feel her excitement bubbling. Hinata-chan will be here soon.
Minutes pass and she excitedly turns towards the door Hinata-chan is always on right on time so she should be here any second now. Okay so maybe she's running late, she should be here any minute now. She looks towards the clock, finally taking her eyes off the door, 8:30. When did that happen. Does Hinata-chan not want to see her? 9 pm, she's still not here. Naruko can feel the tears starting to prickle her eyes. She's crying now, it's 10pm and Hinata-chan still isn't here. Even that one time she was sick Ko had arrived early to tell her.
She lays in bed, angry and confused and more than anything sad. Closing her eyes she just wants this day to be over.
Ruko-ch. . . Hel. . . Tou. . . Kaa. . . anyone plea. . .
Naruko shoots up out of bed, her heart beating wildly. Was that a nightmare? She looks at the clock, it's only 10:30. It was odd it sounded like Hinata-chan was speaking to her, but Hinata-chan never showed up. Maybe she's waiting outside for her? Naruko quickly gets up and checks. No one. Maybe she is waiting at the playground they usually play at, Naruko had made that mistake before so maybe Hinata-chan did too? No no one is there. What about the forest near it? Nothing.
For some reason her heart is still beating like crazy, she can't get the idea of Hinata-chan being in danger out of her head. A voice echoes through her head. It's odd, like she can understand what it's saying yet at the same time she can't. Like it's to far off at the moment for her to hear, but she can tell it's talking. It wants her to sit as still as she can. She's not very good at that but she'll try it.
When she opens her eyes next things seem odd, like she is in the water but can move normally. Like there is some thing, she can't describe it, flowing all around her. It's in this flow she notices something. While most things near her feel of fire, off in the distance, something feels of lightning. And it's with something else, no someone else, It feels kind of like. Hinata-chan!
She rushes towards those two feelings as fast as she can, the world seems to go by faster than she's ever noticed before. She still pretty sure she's visible unlike those super fast animal people but she knows she's faster. She's unsure of how long it takes but she approaches the two feelings. A huge man, maybe he's part giant, is holding a sack. Did the sack move? The man turns, and says something but she can't seem to recognize it she's so focused on the bag. It moved again and in that moment she felt it. Hinata-chan is in that bag!
"Hey you jerk, let Hinata-chan out of that bag!" She says while pointing a finger at the man.
He snorts and says "Yeah whatever you little red eyed freak." She gives him a confused look.
"Red eyes? You should get your eyes checked, my eyes are purple. Or maybe you just never learned colors, were you to dumb?" The taunt is fairly childish, and the man rolls his eyes. Seeing it didn't work she tries something different. "Hiashi-sama Hinata-chan's in the bag!" She would normally never call him sama, but she figures it'll sell it better. It did. The man whirls behind him afraid to be attacked from behind by the head of the Hyuuga clan. There was no one there. His shoulder lightens suddenly and he immediately knows he's been had.
The Uzumaki lets Hinata out of the bag and removes her gag. The first thing Hinata says is. "Naruko-chan did you always have red eyes?" The heiress was confused, she could have sworn Naruko-chan had purple eyes. But the entirety of both eyes are red, with a darker red in the pupils, even the skin around it has turned red. And her hair seems to be standing up oddly, even though it's normally very smooth. Her eyes widen however and she screams "Naruko-chan look out." And then something even stranger happened, as Naruko-chan turned her eyes and hair seemed to return to normal. She gets kicked in the head and is sent flying away from Hinata.
"That was a neat trick kid but don't think you're going to get me again. Hell just for that I'll kill you. But first, I'll make you regret saving the girl, how would you like to see your friend lose her legs?"
He wasn't really going to cut off the girls legs, not when he can't get her healed, they do need her to breed the Byakugan in the cloud village, and having her bleed out is not conducive to that. Regardless he pulls out a kunai and holds it up to the heiress.
"No don't hurt her!" Naruko cries out, as she shakily stands, spitting out the blood that is building in her mouth.
He may not intend to cut off her legs, but simply stabbing them will be enough to both torment the other girl, and make sure she can't run. "To late for that." The kunai descends. He knew no more.
"No don't hurt her!" Hiashi had arrived just on time to hear that cry, but not even a second later the words of an adult male said.
"Too late for that." He burst into the clearing right at that moment.
All over the village one thing was felt at once. Dread. They know this feeling, it's the same as it was five years ago. It seems the demon really was just biding it's time.
It took Anbu ten seconds to arrive at the location of the foul chakra. It took the Hokage eleven. No one found what they we're expecting. They had been prepared to see a ten tail monster growing out of a girls stomach, or a girl to be turning into said monster. What they found was a very dead cloud ambassador, a frozen Hyuuga Hiashi, and a white haired girl with ringed sharingan like eyes standing protectively in front of the Hyuuga heiress. The white haired girl is covered in blood. After only a moment the chakra, and transformation fades leaving only a blood soaked Uzumaki Naruko, a Hyuuga heiress clutching the other girl for dear life. And a now rushing Hiashi eager to see his daughter safe, along with her savior.
The girls were both unharmed, in fact the blood on the Uzumaki seems to be entirely from the cloud nin. The Hokage speaks to everyone present, his face grim, knowing the whole village felt this. "No one here shall speak of what happened here ever again, as far as we're concerned Hiashi found the cloud nin kidnapping his daughter and another child, and he killed him for it."
As one the Anbu present salute the Hokage and fade into the shadows. The Hokage turns to Hiashi and says "Now tell me what you saw."
"Sir I arrived just as he was about to stab my daughter, then Naruko used what I can only assume is its chakra. She killed him so fast I could have blinked and it was over. One moment he's alive attempting to stab my daughter and the next he's on the ground with Naruko ripping her hands out of his chest. I tried to approach and make sure they were alright but she growled at me and stood in front of Hinata, she remained that way until she passed out." Hiashi says, with mixed feelings. On the one hand she saved his daughter and was aware enough to continue protecting her. But on the other she could only barely recognize friend from foe, and clearly the demon can exert some influence on her. Still she had saved his daughter and for that she would have the Hyuuga clan on her side.
The two men neglected to think about the fact that Hinata was still very conscious and could hear their conversation, even if she didn't understand all of it. But she knew one thing, for certain, Naruko had come to rescue her. She swore at that moment, to in return always be there to protect the boisterous red head.
Hinata would soon come to learn that she had a lot of protecting to do. The Hyuuga affair as it's come to be known, caused a change in the citizens of Konoha. Before they merely hated and ignored the girl, hoping she would go away. Of course they were more scornful when she talked to them, but now. Now they were out for blood. They had all felt it that night, that horrid chakra returning. Seeing the demon still residing in human form the realized that perhaps she wasn't a demon before. But now surely the demon has taken possession of her.
Hinata often found herself coming home with bruises from pushing Naruko out of the way of rocks being thrown at her, and taking the hit instead. And much to her fathers dismay has recently earned a reputation for insulting villagers who took to insulting the red head. He sees no problem with protecting the red head. Hell he even has standing orders that no matter the time of day, or what is going on the girl is allowed to enter the compound, no questions asked.
The Hyuuga clan had at first been against the sudden support of the girl, beyond just letting he be friends with his daughter. But he told the elders the truth. If nothing else they saw a chance to earn a loyal and powerful body guard for the heiress, so they allowed it. It didn't take long for the rest of the clan to follow.
It's because of this that much to Hiashi's delight, Hinata took a sudden interest in training, and he quickly found out, that when his daughter is not hesitating she's actually more talented in the gentle fist then he ever was.
That is perhaps the only truly good news for the clan as a result of that night however. He had lost his brother as a result of the political fallout with Kumo. Not only that the greater council meetings have been rather annoying as he's constantly hounded by the civilians for helping the demon girl. While the Shinobi claim he's trying to gather power. Is it so hard to believe he would help his friends child?
The Sandaime had been feeling much the same as he rubs his head as a migraine seems to be growing as he listens to the councilors squabble among themselves. The two Civilian seats have since been filled, though really it's only accurate to call one of them civilian seats. Yamada Haruto is the new head of the civilian education system. He's a rather stupid man despite the position he fills, but he's got a way with words and the civilians elected him for it so they can deal with the fallout of being so easily swayed.
The other seat, for the head of the hospital, which is only technically civilian because it's not reserved purely for shinobi, is the only female student of the late Yondaime, and the youngest member of the council. Noihara Rin currently 19 years old and the third greatest medic in the history of the village. Her hair has grown in the past few years, reaching down to her waist. She still has the purple markings on her face similar to those of an Inuzuka. She had been working as the third in charge at the time of the attack, but her two superiors died when a emergency ward set up outside the hospital was hit by an attack.
She took to the responsibility like fish to water and saved thousands of lives, both through her own skills, and her orders to the other medics.
"Enough. We're not here to discuss Naruko, this is just our monthly meeting to discuss the current needs of both councils and the current state of affairs in the village." Hiruzen, done appraising Rin, speaks.
Haruto speaks. "But that's just it Hokage-sama, the civilians are feeling unsafe with that thing around, and we feel for the safety of our people it would be best to get rid of her."
"I understand your point and I assure you the girl will not be a harm to the civilians." Why can they never just leave this be, there is actual work to be done.
"But sir, we all felt the beasts power, and now look she is even making Hiashi-dono's daughter act depraved." Hiashi cuts in at this point.
"I fail to see how my daughter defending her friend is in any way depraved." He says with disgust in his voice. His eyes locked on the other man.
The Hokage speaks again. "I said we will not be discussing Naruko today, so now aside from any Naruko related matters what is there to report?"
Shikaku speaks up at this point. "Troublesome." The collective council stares at him waiting to see if he'll say anything else. Finally he does "We've found Orochimaru's missing apprentice." Following this Inoichi speaks up.
"I've already both interrogated her and done a mind sweep, she can't remember anything other than being told they were leaving on a training trip, and an intense pain in her shoulder. But other wise she is still as loyal to Konoha as you or me Hokage-sama."
He nods "That is excellent news, We'll give her a probationary period of three months, if nothing happens then she'll be given her rank of chunin back, for now she will be treated as a genin."
The rest of the meeting went by rather uneventfully as they discussed mostly budgeting and the allocations of missions, as well as overall mission intake for the past month. Calling an end to the meeting Hiruzen says "Meeting adjourned, see you all in a month."
A/N I've decided to end this chapter here, if only because it was getting long and I didn't want to have an extremely drastic jump between the length of chapter 1 and chapter 2. The next chapter will finish off the childhood days and then we'll be getting into canon. Till next time
CM 10/25/2018
Edit 10/26/2018 – it was brought to my attention that there was a clash between trying to show Naruko as mature for her age and trying to still give her a childish understanding of things. I've changed a few instances of dialogue so I hope that flows better. If you notice similar problems in the future don't hesitate to tell me.